UKIP claim Ms Soteri is disabled and Nigel was simply supporting her as she walked.

UKIP's statement to TBG says - "Ande Soteri is disabled. She has a stick and Nigel had to help her walk the 50 yards from the bar to the hotel. UKIP have never heard anything so ridiculous. This is ludicrous and abhorrent mischief making ahead of the crucial Newark by-election."

TBG understands that Farage was a speaker at a tourism conference at the five-star Hilton Hotel in the capital Valletta.

UKIP claim that after a Gala Dinner on Tuesday evening Farage joined delegates for drinks at various bars before walking Ms Soteri back to her hotel.